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Chapter 7 - To Arlong Park

Mario stood up slowly, feeling the wave of excitement surge through him again. His body was still trembling from the cold water, but his mind was focused now—fixed on the task ahead. He wasn't just going to stand by, watching the world unfold around him. No, he was going to rise, train, and make sure that, one day, when the dust settled and the stories were told, he would be the one standing alongside the legends.

But first, he had a lot of work to do. And that meant pushing past every limit he'd ever known.

He glanced at the open manual again, flipping through the pages that described techniques he could barely comprehend. Soru was the first one that caught his attention. The idea of moving faster than the eye could track, of turning speed into a weapon—that was something he could work on immediately.

He inhaled deeply, and before he even realized it, his body was already in motion. With a swift pivot, he took off in a sprint, his feet pounding against the wooden deck of the Baratie, his focus razor-sharp.

He didn't need to be perfect right away. He just needed to start.

The wind whipped around him as he accelerated, his mind only half-aware of the mechanics of his movement. He wasn't moving like the others—he wasn't disappearing, not yet—but he could feel something pushing at the edges of his movement, urging him to go faster. To move like the legends he'd read about.

The first attempt ended in a stumble.

He felt the impact in his legs as his feet lost their rhythm and sent him sliding across the slick floor of the ship. Mario grunted, his palms skimming the rough wood of the deck, but he didn't let the failure discourage him. He sprang back to his feet almost immediately, shaking off the shock of the fall.

"Okay," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Not quite Soru. But close."

He set his stance again, this time focusing on his breath. Every movement had to be controlled, every thought had to align with the instinct to push forward. This was about becoming a force of nature. He wasn't going to get there with half-hearted attempts.

"Let's try that again."

He pushed off with more intent this time, focusing on the surge of energy in his legs, trying to ignore the doubts that crept up. His body had already begun to adapt—he could feel it in the rhythm of his muscles, in the way his heart was steadily pumping in his chest.

And this time, when he moved, it was like the air itself parted before him.

He didn't vanish like Soru—he wasn't that fast—but the burst of speed he generated sent him sliding across the deck a good few feet. A small success, but it was enough.

"That's progress," Mario said, smiling to himself as he steadied his breath.

His next step was to work on control. He needed to refine that burst, make it smoother, more instinctual. And after that—he would attempt to add the disappearing part.

To make Soru his.

For now, though, he let the thrill of success wash over him, even as the battle raged on around him.

He could hear Zoro's grunts as Mihawk's sword cut through the air, the heavy thud of Luffy's punches landing against Don Krieg, and the occasional scream of a crewmate battling their own chaos. But all that seemed distant now.

***

 „Gomu-Gomunooooo! SLEDGEHAMMER"

Mario blinked rapidly, still feeling the lingering vibrations of Luffy's Gomu-Gomu no Sledgehammer echo in the air. That powerful crash of rubber and willpower was unmistakable. But the realization came crashing down on him almost as hard as Luffy's punch:

"Did Luffy already defeat Don Krieg? How long was I meditating?"

His mind had been deep in concentration, honing his connection to his spirit, his body aching with every second of effort, but now? Time had slipped away like the tide pulling away from shore, and in the distance, the aftermath of the battle felt like a distant memory, already set in motion.

He turned his head toward the Baratie's main deck, straining to hear the voices and sounds of battle. The air was quieter now—too quiet.

No sounds of Luffy's triumphant shout, no loud bangs or explosive clashes. Something told him it was already over.

"...I guess Luffy did it." Mario muttered under his breath. He could almost hear the exuberance in Luffy's voice, the loud declaration that he had won, because that was just how Luffy did things. No subtlety, no grace—just pure, unfiltered willpower.

The question that followed, though, was trickier.

What now?

Nami's betrayal weighed on Mario's mind. She had made up her mind. The gold. Arlong Park. The group would split—he knew it, could see it in his mind like a well-worn page of a book. And it wasn't like he could stop her.

The memories of the small village she had fought to protect, the heart-wrenching truth of her past with Arlong, and the cruel grip the fish-man held over her were undeniable. Even if he tried to intervene, it might only make things worse. If he stopped Nami now, Arlong's wrath would fall not just on Nami, but on the entire village of Cocoyashi, the same villagers who had trusted and loved her all these years. And that would be even worse.

Mario sighed and let his shoulders slump, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. He could picture Nami's determined expression as she ran toward Arlong Park. The treacherous gold, the lies, the hurt—it was all wrapped up in her heartache. He couldn't change that.

But there was another part of the plan unfolding in his mind, a different course of action that might keep things from completely falling apart.

His thoughts drifted to the rest of the Straw Hats. Zoro. Usopp. Johnny. Yosaku. Sanji. Luffy. They'd all be scattered, split off by the upcoming choices and circumstances. But what was his place here?

The battle with Don Krieg had already ended, but there was still something that needed to be done. Something he could do.

He turned his gaze back to the ship.

Zoro.

The swordsman was a natural choice. Zoro had the kind of raw strength and resolve Mario admired. They'd already shared a few quiet moments, and Mario could tell—Zoro wasn't one to back down from a fight, no matter the odds.

Plus, Zoro had his own fight ahead of him—his own journey, his own commitment to becoming the greatest swordsman. It made sense that Mario would go with him. He could help, train under him, and hone his own skills—build his strength, his resolve, his abilities to stand beside Luffy when the time came.

But what about Luffy?

Mario could already feel Luffy's infectious energy, his bravado, his sheer strength of will that could move mountains. He would be fine. Luffy would always be fine. It wasn't about whether or not Luffy needed help—it was about what Mario needed. Also after the fight je is out for two days.

Luffy had the crew's support, and Mario had no doubt that he would recruit Sanji just like he always did—quickly, enthusiastically, and with all the conviction in the world.

Luffy didn't need Mario now beside him.

Zoro and the others were the best fit.

Mario nodded, firming his resolve. Training with Zoro would be intense—he could feel the weight of that decision already, the commitment to push beyond every limit he thought he had. But that was what this was all about, wasn't it?

It was about growth. About becoming stronger. About forging bonds that would last, no matter what.

He checked the CP0 manual again—his lifeline to the intense, brutal training ahead. Three days with Zoro. That was his window. He'd make the most of it. No distractions. Just pure, raw training. There would be time to think about what came next after that.

He stood up, feeling the gentle sway of the Baratie beneath his feet. The sounds of battle were all but drowned out now by the clatter of the ship and the faint hum of distant voices. He glanced back one last time at the direction of Arlong Park, where Nami's fate was already being sealed.

"Stay strong, Nami," he whispered, a small frown tugging at his lips.

He turned his back to the horizon and marched toward the group—Zoro and the others were already preparing for the inevitable.

He didn't need to second-guess himself anymore. The path forward was clear. The training would be grueling. But he wasn't afraid of hard work.

Not anymore.

***

Mario found Zoro , all patched up and still hurt, cleaning his swords, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon they need to go after Nađi.

"Yo, Zoro," Mario called out, walking up to him with a determined stride. "Mind if I tag along with you and the others for the next leg of the journey?"

Zoro didn't look up from where he was meticulously cleaning his swords, but his sharp eyes flickered in Mario's direction for just a moment. With a low grunt, he acknowledged Mario's presence. "Sure. But where were you when all the chaos went down?"

Mario hesitated for a fraction of a second, but quickly masked the brief hesitation with a casual shrug. "When the battle started, I got swept up in Mihawk's attack... landed straight in the sea." He gave a half-hearted laugh, as if to make light of it, but internally, he could feel the weight of his own words.

Zoro's gaze never left the blade he was polishing, but his posture shifted slightly. He was always alert, always looking for a hint of sincerity, and Mario knew he'd be able to sense if anything was off. So he pressed on before Zoro could ask any further probing questions.

"I... I saw Mihawk's power up close. And when he slashed through that ship like it was nothing, I realized how small I am in comparison. How powerless." Mario's voice softened slightly, but the undercurrent of urgency was clear. "I need to be stronger. I need to train."

Zoro paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he finally looked up, studying Mario for the first time with an unreadable expression. The swordsman didn't speak for a few moments, the only sound the faint swish of his sword against the cloth as he continued his task. Mario could feel the weight of Zoro's silence, and a knot tightened in his stomach.

Finally, Zoro broke the quiet, his voice as blunt as ever. "So, you want me to help you train? You're serious?"

Mario gave a quick nod, locking eyes with Zoro. "Yeah. I'm serious. I can't keep relying on luck and hope. I have to earn my strength. And if you're willing to teach me—if you've got the time—I'll do whatever it takes. No shortcuts. We got two to there days until we get to Nami"

Zoro studied him for another moment, his gaze sharp and calculating. It was clear that Zoro wasn't the type to waste time on people who didn't have a solid commitment.

Then, he sighed and tossed his sword onto his shoulder, standing up straight. "I'll train you, but I'm not here to coddle you. The road to being stronger isn't easy. It's painful, exhausting, and you'll probably want to quit halfway through."

Zoro's voice grew slightly more serious. "But if you're really willing to put in the effort, then I'll show you what I know. You'll work until your body gives out, then pick yourself up and keep going."

Mario's heart hammered in his chest, but the conviction in his own words had already set his path. There was no backing down now.

"I'm in," Mario said, his voice steady. "I'll push myself as hard as it takes."

He looked over at the horizon once more, the thoughts of Nami, Arlong Park, and the rest of the crew slowly fading into the background.

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